Welcome to CS21. This course will introduce fundamental ideas in computer
science while also teaching you how to write computer programs. We will
study algorithms for solving problems and implement solutions in the
Python programming language. Python is an
interpreted language that is known for its ease of use. We also introduce
object-oriented programming and data structures. A deeper coverage of these
topics will be presented in CS 35.

This course is appropriate for all students who want to learn how to write
computer programs and think like computer scientists. It is the usual first
course for computer science majors and minors. Students with advanced placement
credit or extensive programming experience should place out of this course and
instead begin with CS31 or CS35.

Study sessions

You are invited -- and encouraged -- to participate in Ninja evening study
sessions to prepare for quizzes, to discuss programming concepts, and
to get friendly assistance in working on lab assignments. Our CS
mentoring team is dedicated to helping students, who have no prior
knowledge of computer science, learn to program in Python while
keeping their senses of humor intact. As an added bonus, free food
will be provided at the sessions. The sessions are held:

Weekly Evening Ninja Sessions

Tuesdays

7—9pm

Sci Center 256

Wednesdays

7—10pm

Sci Center 256

Lab Policy

This course features weekly lab assignments which are the largest component of your course grade. Lab attendance is required by all students, unless you have already completed and submitted the lab assignment for the week. Additionally, the cs labs are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for you to use for CS21 lab assignments. While you must attend the lab session for which you are registered, you may optionally attend additional lab sessions, provided space is available. In case of space constraints, students registered for the lab will have seating priority.

Weekly Lab Sessions

1:05—2:35pm Tuesdays

Danner

Science Center 256

2:45—4:15pm Tuesdays

Knerr

Science Center 256

1:05—2:35pm Thursdays

Waterman

Science Center 256

2:45—4:15pm Thursdays

Wicentowski

Science Center 256

Accessing the CS labs after hours

You can use your ID to gain access to the computer labs
at nights and on the weekends. Just wave your ID over
the microprox reader next to the lab doors. When the green
light goes on, just push on the door handle to get in
(the door knob will not turn). If the green light doesn't
go on, then we need to enter your microprox number
into the system. Email local-staff@cs.swarthmore.edu
if you have problems with this. If the building is locked, you
can use your ID to enter the door between Martin and Cornell library.
For this class, your ID will give you access to the labs in rooms
238, 240, and 256.

How to Succeed in CS 21

Attend class.
The primary introduction to course material is through class lecture.
Additionally, we often do lab exercises during class. This
is an important part of the learning process, as these exercises give
you immediate experience with the material we are covering.

Read the material before you come to class.
Don't worry about total comprehension, but at least get a feel for
what we will be covering that week. If you have some understanding of
the material coming into class, it will be easier for you to ask
questions during class, rather than later when help may not be
available.

Ask questions if you don't understand.
This means both during class and while doing lab assignments. This class
continually builds on previous material, so if you don't understand
something one week, it will continue to be a problem the next week,
and the week after that, and so on. If you need help, ask your classmates
(make sure you have read the "Academic Integrity" section below first),
attend study sessions, come talk with me during my office hours,
or email me your question.

Start the lab assignments early.
I realize this one is not always easy to do, but if you can get in the
habit of doing this, you will be much better off. If you get
stuck early (i.e., not two hours before it is due), there will be time
to look for help. In addition, if you start early enough, you can
take a break, go do something else, and come back later. I find I
always have at least a few new ideas when I come back to a problem
after a break. If you wait until the last minute, you can't do this.

Practice, practice, practice. The only effective way to
learn the material and pass the quizzes and exams is to consistently
do the labs. Finish all of the assigned programs (and do some extras,
for fun!). Even if you don't get them done on time, they will still
help you learn the material.

Seek help early and often. Because course material builds
on previous material, it is essential to your success in this class
that you keep up with the course material. If you are having difficulty
with a programming assignment, if you didn't follow something covered
in lecture, if you feel you need some extra help understanding or
practicing some of the course material, or if you just want to discuss
something from a lecture, an assignment, or the text, please come to
my office hours.

Attend CS21 Labs and Study Sessions.Lab attendance is required. The student Ninjas
hold evening study sessions each week.
You are encouraged to participate in these sessions. The Ninjas
will help you prepare for quizzes, will provide additional instruction
in programming concepts, and will provide friendly assistance on
your lab assignments.

Academic Accommodations

If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact Leslie Hempling in the Office of Student Disability Services (Parrish 113) or email lhempli1 to arrange an appointment to discuss your needs. As appropriate, she will issue students with documented disabilities a formal Accommodations Letter. Since accommodations require early planning and are not retroactive, please contact her as soon as possible. For details about the accommodations process, visit the Student Disability Service website.

To receive an accommodation for a course activity, you must have an Accommodation
Authorization letter from Leslie Hempling and you need to meet with me to work
out the details of your accommodation at least one week prior to the activity.

You are also welcome to contact me privately to discuss your academic needs. However,
all disability-related accommodations must be arranged through Leslie Hempling in
the Office Of Student Disability Services.

Grading

Grades will be weighted as follows:

40%

Lab assignments

30%

Quizzes

25%

Final Exam

05%

Class Participation

Quiz policy

Quizzes will be given at the
beginning of class on the days posted in the Announcements section of
the Schedule. Please look over these
dates carefully and contact the professor in advance if you cannot be
in class for a quiz.

If you are not present at the start of class on the day of a quiz, but
make it to class before the end, then you may take the quiz.
Otherwise you will receive a zero for that quiz.

Lab policy

Lab assignments will typically be assigned in class at the
beginning of the week and will be due before midnight on Saturdays. You are strongly encouraged to start early and to
attend the study sessions for extra practice.

You will submit you assignments electronically using the
handin21 program. You may submit your assignment multiple
times, and a history of previous submission will be saved. You are encouraged to submit your work regularly.

Late assignments will only be accepted if you contact the professor
at least a day before the deadline with a legitimate reason for
needing extra time, such as an illness or needing to leave campus.

Even if you do not fully complete an assignment, you should
submit what you have done to receive partial credit.

Programming Style

Programming is not a dry mechanical process, but a form of art. Well
written code has an aesthetic appeal while poor form can make other
programmers and instructors cringe. Programming assignments will be
graded based on style and correctness. Good programming practices
usually include many of the following principles:

Academic Integrity

Academic honesty is required in all your work.
Under no circumstances may you hand in work done with (or by) someone
else under your own name. Your code should never be shared with anyone;
you may not examine or use code belonging to someone else, nor may you
let anyone else look at or make a copy of your code. This includes, but
is not limited to, obtaining solutions from students who previously took
the course or code that can be found online. You may not share
solutions after the due date of the assignment.

Discussing ideas and approaches to problems with others on a general
level is fine (in fact, we encourage you to discuss general strategies
with each other), but you should never read anyone else's code or
let anyone else read your code. All code you submit must be your own
with the following permissible exceptions: code distributed in class,
code found in the course text book, and code worked on with an assigned
partner. In these cases, you should always include detailed comments
that indicates on which parts of the assignment you received help, and
what your sources were.

Failure to abide by these
rules constitutes academic dishonesty and will lead to a hearing of the
College Judiciary Committee. According to the Faculty Handbook:
"Because plagiarism is considered to be so serious a transgression, it is
the opinion of the faculty that for the first offense, failure in the
course and, as appropriate, suspension for a semester or deprivation of
the degree in that year is suitable; for a second offense, the penalty
should normally be expulsion."

Please contact me if you have any questions about what is
permissible in this course.

External Links

Links that are related to the course may be posted here. If you have suggestions for links, let me know.